CostIndexUSA

Sioux City, IA vs Tuscaloosa, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIA
Sioux City
86.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
AL
Tuscaloosa
87.7
overall index
$1,525/mo rent

Sioux City is slightly cheaper than Tuscaloosa — 1.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Sioux City, you would need $81,100 in Tuscaloosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+0.7%
Sioux City
57.8
Tuscaloosa
58.2
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Sioux City
94
Tuscaloosa
96.4
🚗 Transportation+4.2%
Sioux City
97.4
Tuscaloosa
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+4.3%
Sioux City
88.1
Tuscaloosa
91.9
Utilities+2.1%
Sioux City
82.7
Tuscaloosa
84.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Sioux City to see what you'd need to earn in Tuscaloosa to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
$81,100
$1,100 more needed in Tuscaloosa

Formula: salary × (87.7 ÷ 86.5) = salary × 1.0139. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Sioux City, IA

Median Home Price
$211,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
57.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
58.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.6×

Tuscaloosa has 0.7% higher housing costs compared to Sioux City.

Income & Job Market

Sioux City, IA

Median Household Income
$70,700
Per Capita Income
$40,300
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
82,684
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingAgricultureRetailEducation

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Household Income
$58,200
Per Capita Income
$33,200
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
99,543
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingAutomotiveGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Sioux City, IA
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Tuscaloosa, AL
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.